In his book God is the Gospel John Piper makes the point that Christians can tend to miss the main point of the gospel by focusing on its peripheral aspects instead of its supreme end - the glory of Christ. Imagine a jeweler who is an expert in diamonds. It is certainly possible for a jeweler to become so enamored with the peripheral aspects of a diamond and yet miss the diamond’s overall glory. The jeweler can appreciate the diamond’s cut, its magnificent clarity, and its color all the while forgetting to see that those aspects contribute to the overall glory of the object. If the jeweler appreciates each characteristic in isolation without being able to appreciate the fact that the diamond in its fullness is a wonderful thing as it shines in the light, he has missed the point. However, when understood rightly, each individual characteristic of the diamond contributes to its overall glory. As the jeweler comes to understand each aspect of the diamond more fully, his appreciation of the diamond’s glory in its fullness is that much more magnified.

If we become enamored with the forgiveness we have through Christ’s blood without appreciating how it contributes to an overall picture of God’s glory, we have missed the point of the gospel. Likewise, if we imagine we would be happy in heaven with all of the wonderful things the eternal state will provide, but exclude the presence of Christ and fellowship with him, we have missed the point of the gospel.

Interestingly, this thought has bearing on the intensity of theological disagreements. In our theological pursuits, we study specific doctrines in order to build a comprehensive theology that serves to develop a picture of God and the fullness of his glory. Each specific doctrine we espouse should contribute and magnify the picture of that glory in our minds. For instance, the doctrine of particular redemption is a doctrine I hold dear. It is a specific doctrine that contributes to my overall picture of God’s glory. So in theological discussions, when the doctrine of particular redemption is in dispute, it is not simply that specific doctrine that is at stake, it is the fullness of God’s grace. When a doctrine that is part of my comprehensive theology is in question, I tend to get more fired up because if that doctrine was removed from my theology, God’s glory would be diminished [in my mind]. We see this dynamic at work with people who have not embraced the doctrine of election. When first presented with the doctrine people tend to get upset because they do not yet understand how the doctrine magnifies God’s glory. Initially it is often seen as something that diminishes God’s glory by removing his justice (because God would be “unfair” for choosing certain people and not others).

So as we engage in theological discussions, it is important we understand that we will encounter this dynamic. As teachers of God’s truths, we must have a heart for our sheep and seek to build a comprehensive picture of God’s glory in their minds. We must understand, however, that as we teach certain doctrines, the picture of God’s glory may temporarily be diminished in our sheep’s minds until they grasp how those doctrines contribute to a comprehensive theology and more clearly display his glory.